You dreamt of it. You imagined the birth of your child, his first ride on a bike, his first school day and his prom. Yet, when you get there, you realize it is slightly more technical than you thought. Do you know where to begin? Is your child scared?
Equipment
Tricycle
In general, children first use a tricycle on which they get used to pedaling. Maybe it does not teach your child to keep his balance but it allows him to understand the acceleration that he creates while pedaling and the one he does not control on slopes.
Bike
When choosing a bike for your child, if he is very small, choose one on which you can attach extra wheels at the back. It is best to choose a good quality bicycle because they are often lighter and easier to handle.
Although the direction lessons began with the tricycle, the bicycle gives him a better idea of his control. If you are using extra wheels, you child will learn smoothly as the risky angles will be smaller. Unless he tries to turn anywhere between 90 and 180 degrees, he will be safe.
Learning bar
Some parents may use the learning bar if their child is frightened or if he has little balance. With the learning bar, parents keep the child in balance while letting him find his equilibrium. It is an excellent way to reduce the fear of falling.
Balance
The real challenge of the child is to find his balance, as it is the imbalance that will cause him to fall. The bike must be adjusted so that his feet touch the ground. Thus, when he senses the fall, he can only brake and put his foot down. Don’t forget to remind him to brake first to avoid dragging his foot and injuring his ankle.
Braking
If your child is a natural and learns very fast, it is safer to teach him to slow down before anything else. It is quite simple; he must brake slowly whether by pedalling backwards or on the handlebars, depending on the model. If he brakes too quickly, he will lose control and you will probably need bandages.
If the braking system is located on the handlebars, teach him to brake with the back wheel. Breaking swiftly with the front wheel, especially on a slope, could flip the bike and if he keeps holding the handlebars instead of protecting his face, he could get hurt very seriously.
Protection
Don’t forget to buy adequate protection. This protection is essential and you won't regret paying a few extra bucks for a helmet, kneepads and elbow pads that he loves and wears instead of risking head injuries.
